IRS Misses Court-Ordered Deadline to Turn Over Previously “Lost” Lerner Emails

On July 1, U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan ordered the IRS to produce some 1,800 “lost” emails every Monday pertaining to Lois Lerner as part of a lawsuit filed by government watchdog Judicial Watch.

Yet, the first deadline, which was Monday July 6, came and went without a single document being produced by the tax-collecting agency, despite the judge’s order.

“The IRS, working through the Justice Department, has violated an explicit federal court order to begin turning over Lois Lerner’s ‘lost’ emails,” stated Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. “The Obama IRS’ contempt for the courts and for Congress resulted in a massive destruction of evidence. IRS Commissioner John Koskinen’s and IRS Chief Counsel William J. Wilkins’ resignations are long overdue.”

The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) recovered from back-up tapes what Commissioner Koskinen told Congress during sworn testimony were unrecoverable emails. In fact, TIGTA was able to locate the Lois Lerner back-up tapes within one day.

The developments come as Judicial Watch obtained documents this week revealing the Justice Department was well-aware of and knee-deep in the IRS targeting of conservative groups as early as 2010.

In fact, there was extensive collaboration between the IRS and the Justice Department under then-Attorney General Eric Holder to potentially open criminal prosecutions against conservative groups. A “DOJ Recap” report details an October 2010 meeting between Lois Lerner, DOJ officials and “one representative from the FBI” to discuss the possible criminal prosecution of nonprofit organizations for alleged political activity.